Just for laughs ... :D

No.
And I don't think H/PCs are targetted at "the average user" either, nor do I think any of us are in that group anyway

But a quick search thru my local store's site gives pretty good prices on the Fujitsu's:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=111105648&vpn=APQ0F3080C000000&manufacture=FUJITSU%20CA%20INC
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=3943515&vpn=FPCM20103&manufacture=FUJITSU%20CANADA,%20INC
These are very competitive prices in the ultra protable market. Way cheaper than the Sony and Panasonic offerings.

But of course the Flybook is simply expensive. Then again it's a convertible tablet, so it's not too far off either.

Edited by takwu 2005-02-09 12:40 AM

Yikes!! but ... but ... I am "the average user" ...

I just wish HPCs are targeted at "the average user". ... see what good it can do to the price of PCs and PPCs? I remember my dad got an Epson ECP/2 at around $2500+ without monitor or mouse or anything except for a dot-matrix printer in 1990.

Something that physically looks exactly like that ... ahhhh ... fond memories of it ...
http://www.thepcmuseum.net/details.php?RECORD_KEY(museum)=id&id(museum)=533

The one my dad got was running 12Mhz ... I think it had a *TURBO* switch that allowed it to run at 16Mhz .... *turbo* switch --> the precursor to overclocking!!

So my dream is that *if* HPCs are targeted at avg user, then prices would come down, sales would go up, R&D would continue for it, and by now we should be having OLEDs, 800X300, CE.NET etc etc at PPC prices and not medium entry notebook price.

Last check, HPCs (eg 900c or Clio NXT coming out in April), list for $800~$900 and $999 new respectively unless u got the $799 deal before 5Feb! Whereas the entry level notebook goes for around $600 odd.

Granted they are diff prod cats, I just wish HPCs are more affordable like PPCs.

First, about that Turbo button...
Any 486 or 386 (I think) users can tell you what the turbo button does on those machine; it's on to go full speed, and off to _underclock_ the processor to XT or AT level, 8MHz IIRC. For compatibility I guess? I just used it to run old games that used the clock speed for real timing.

As for the new HPC prices... well most of us have bought our HPCs used, at a way lower price. I guess that's why it's not supported much. However I'm currently trying to hunt down a new Smartbook G138, which goes for 3000 CNY in China, which is 450 CAD, or 360 USD (www.xe.com). It comes with 4.1 and free upgrade to 4.2, but on same old StrongARM 206. Not as good a deal as a SigIII, but I can read Chinese not Japanese Wish me luck.

Hi Takwu,

Care to share more info on this new Smartbook G138? If its around US360, it is a very viable alternative to me trying to install NetBSD on my MP790!!

Further, its native support for Chinese characters and input would be great!

The Smartbook G138 is a nice deivce, I've been trying to get hold of one to review, but haven't had much luck - don't speak the vernacular

Well, the official website doesn't work at the moment
http://www.e683.com/
I hope they haven't gone for good, since the "free 4.2 upgrade" was found there.

But the device itself has 3 other identities

Zupera Smartbook 7C
http://www.zupera.com/MOBILE.HTM
(Note the Zupera Smartpad is the Smartbook G168A)

Also called the Coxion WebBook
http://www.coxion.fi/eng/tuotteet/webbook.html

And the Demolux DBook1 (German). But unfortunately they are now special order only
http://www.demolux.com/mobile_computer.htm

Zupher never responded to emails I was sending them all last year.

Coxion aren't interested in a consumer review

Haven't tried the Germans, but if what you say is true that wont be interested

e683 never works

This is sad ... either they cannot get their hardware and specs right, or they are not interested in selling to consumers!!

Say, do you think we have 50 buyers for SmartBook? If so, maybe we can bundle and get a quote from one of them. They may be more interested when we have *real* numbers.

SmartBook G138 (indicate your expected price)
1. Snappy! ($400)
2. Put your name here!

EDIT:

Decided to spin a new thread ... so please dun post to this list.

Edited by Snappy! 2005-02-10 6:04 PM